CURRENT FAVES
MB’s 30 FAVE ALBUMS FROM 2011 (AND LATE 2010)
Songwriters, Americana, Rock & Folk
Glen Campbell ‘Ghost On The Canvas’ (ALBUM OF THE YEAR!)
Wilco ‘The Whole Love’
The Unthanks ‘Last’
Laura Veirs ‘Tumble Bee’
The Decemberists ‘The King Is Dead’
Gruff Rhys ‘Hotel Shampoo’
Gillian Welch ‘The Harrow & The Harvest’
The Black Keys ‘El Camino’
Gazelle Twin ‘The Entire City’
Nathaniel Rateliff ‘In Memory Of Loss’
The High Llamas ‘Talahomi Way’
Sarah Gillespie with Gilad Atzmon ‘In The Current Climate’
Explosions In The Sky ‘Take Care, Take Care, Take Care’
World
Fatoumata Diawara ‘Fatou’
Sabrina Malheiros ‘Dreaming’
Tinariwen ‘Tassili’
Zaz 'Zaz'
Jazz
Wyatt/ Atzmon/ Stephen ‘For The Ghosts Within’
Gwilym Simcock ‘Good Days At Schloss Elmau’
Youn Sun Nah ‘Same Girl’
Rhythmica ‘Rhythmica’
Nils Landgren ‘The Moon, The Stars And You’
Classical
Mahler ‘Symphony No.2 ‘Resurrection’’ (LPO Live, Jurowski)
‘Naked Byrd Two’ (Armonico Consort)
Rachmaninov ‘Piano Concertos 3 & 4’ (Andsnes, LSO, Pappano)
J S Bach ‘Easter and Ascension Oratorios’ (Retrospect Ensemble)
Stanley Bate ‘Symphony No.4’ (RSNO, Yates)
‘White Night: Impressions of Norwegian Folk Music’ (Versto, Larsen, Pedersen)
Mike Sheppard ‘The Soul Rests Eternal’ (Dale, ECO, Sidwell)
Striggio ‘Mass Ecco Sì Beato Giorno “in 40 Parts”’ (I Fagiolini, Hollingworth)
6 FAVES FROM 2011 IN MORE DETAIL
‘Kangwondo Arirang’ & ‘La Chanson d’Hélène’ by Youn Sun Nah (from ‘Same Girl’) – two absolutely sensational tracks from the up-and-coming Korean folk-jazz singer, who reminds you one moment of Madeleine Peyroux, the next of a mellow Barbra Streisand. The first track is a beautiful arrangement of a traditional Korean song (with fine acoustic guitar and seductively double-tracked voice), the second is crooned in French, with gravelly French narration from Roland Brival enhancing the sexual tension. Listen and chill ... and then check out the Metallica cover, where the bastard offspring of Grace Slick and Jim Morrison raises its pointed little head and bellows!
‘Gan to the Kye’ by The Unthanks (from ‘Last’) – Rachel and Becky’s voices are a thing of wonder on their rich arrangement of a traditional Northumbrian folk tune about ... a cow’s desolation at the death of her calf. Love it. (The album also contains a stunning cover of Crimso’s ‘Starless’, which, in its way, rivals Craig Armstrong’s version in terms of outstanding re-interpretation.)
‘Laura’ by Wyatt/Atzmon/Stephen (from ‘For The Ghosts Within’) – one of my all-time heroes, Robert Wyatt, accompanied by mesmerising saxman Gilad Atzmon and a string quartet led by Ros Stephen, delivers what is now my favourite version of one of my fave all-time songs. Totally unique and memorable music-making! (Album of the year so far.)
‘When We Could’ by Nathaniel Rateliff (from ‘In Memory of Loss’) – the best alt country singer-songwriter of recent years produces ludicrously affecting album of simple, reflective songs. Perfect desolation from Lambchop’s more tuneful brother!
‘I Got Rhythm’ & ‘Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie’ by Nikki Yanofsky (from ‘Nikki’) – two very different tracks from outstandingly talented 17-year-old Canadian chanteuse: an uptempo jazz swinger with brilliant scat, and a nicely laid-back Madeleine Peyroux-Maria Muldaur-style number with welcome vocal nuances of Veronique ‘Amoureuse’ Sanson coming through. So, for someone as naturally talented as this, er, why the auto-tune, Universal?
‘The Sorcerer’ by Rhythmica (from ‘Rhythmica’) – captivating jazz from extraordinarily talented new UK group – they look like tyros but play like wise old birds just flown in from a master session with Clifford Brown, Herbie Hancock and Elvin Jones ... and they ROCK! The future of British jazz has never looked better!
OLD FAVES FROM 2009-2010
‘Sinister Kid’ by Black Keys (from ‘Brothers’) – Creedence Clearwater Revival meet ‘Tons of Sobs’ Free in grungy, sweaty track about “the boy with the broken halo”. Irresistibly funkalicious!
‘Terra’L’ by Lura (from ‘Eclipse’) – kids singing on records always remind me of ‘Grocer Jack’, but, here, they actually ‘complete’ this simple and utterly beautiful voice-and-acoustic guitar track from mellifluous Cape Verde star, Lura. (The rest of the album, including a very special track where Lura’s backed by tango ensemble, Kantango, is just as good.)
‘The Rake’s Song’ by The Decemberists (from ‘The Hazards of Love’) – US folk-rockers sing strikingly savage song about murdering your own kids – the centre-piece of an incredibly powerful album that marries heavy guitars and Hammond with folk sensibilities and raw passion. Jaw-droppingly unique!
'Neon Valley Street' & 'Cold War' by Janelle Monáe (from 'The Archandroid') - two from eighteen faultless pop tracks from my album of 2010, a giant cinematic mix of beats, rock, soul, string quartets, Bowie, Cameo, Debussy & sci-fi
‘The Boy In The Bubble’ by Peter Gabriel (from ‘Scratch My Back’) – startlingly sparse and powerful version of Paul Simon’s classic from an album that's made extra-special by John Metcalfe’s brilliantly original orchestral arrangements
'Start/Stop/Synchro' & 'Find Me Out' by Rose Elinor Dougall (from 'Without Why') - Mama Cass meets Sophie E-B in cracking set of uplifting electronic pop. 11 songs/ 39 minutes: perfect!
‘Learnin’ To Ride’ by Caitlin Rose (from ‘Own Side Now’) – the new Nashville: an irresistible and seductively packaged ‘updated’ McGarrigles album
‘Not The Drinking’ by Lauren Pritchard (from ‘Wasted In Jackson’) – Al Green & Joss Stone’s (huh?) love child blows her parents' recent releases out of the water with a frighteningly mature delivery underpinning an album of consistently excellent songs
‘The Peppery Man’ by Natalie Merchant (from ‘Leave Your Sleep’) – an extraordinarily rootsy Southern groove, with close harmonies & Gospel stylings from the brilliant Fairfield Four
‘Never Alone’ & ‘There’s No Other Me’ by Jeff Beck (from ‘Emotion & Commotion’) – two outstanding tracks from a truly moving album, the first with a translucent guitar tone curiously recalling vintage Steve Hackett & the second featuring Joss Stone’s most powerful vocal ever
‘Stylo’ by Gorillaz (from ‘Plastic Beach’) – love the astonishing texture change at 2 mins when Bobby Womack takes over vocals from Damon Albarn!
‘If You Can’t Sleep’ by She & Him (from ‘Volume Two’) – beautiful a cappella hymn of love that closes this second album of perfect summer pop from Zooey Deschanel & M.Ward
‘Alpha Shallows’ by Laura Marling (from ‘I Speak Because I Can’) – a well-nigh perfect contemporary distillation of Cohen, Siberry, Mitchell & Drake: totally original & defiantly British
'Field Music (measure)' double-CD by Field Music - the BEST album of the last 12 months by any ‘thinking’ band: NY beats, sharp vocals & quirky riffs leading to a lovingly surreal pastoral conclusion
‘Little Deschutes’ by Laura Veirs (from ‘July Flame’) – rootsy Americana from supremely talented singer-songwriter
‘La Faccia Della Terra’ by Vinicio Capossela (from ‘The Story-Faced Man’) – Italian Tom Waits joins forces with Calexico and transports you to his unique world
‘Small Mountain’ by Midlake (from ‘The Courage Of Others’) – Fairports meet CSN&Y meet Espers in haunting folk-rock outing
‘Sebero’ by Issa Bagayogo (from ‘Mali Koura’) – the King of contemporary African grooves,first played to me by Charlie Gillett, who will always be remembered with very much love
’10 Mile Stereo’ by Beach House (from ‘Teen Dream’) – Supertramp meet Mercury Rev in fab total bliss-out
‘The Rain’ & ‘My One And Only Thrill’ by Melody Gardot (from ‘My One And Only Thrill’) – two examples of barely restrained physical desire from a superbly sung and arranged album
CATALOGUE FAVES
‘Listen Here’ by Lewis Taylor (from ‘The Lost Album’) – not too much of Lewis’ customarily inventive nu-soul on this resplendent Beach Boys-meets-Todd Rundgren pop track, which reminds me heavily of forgotten genius Chris Rainbow’s best work. Lewis, come back, we miss you!
‘My Forbidden Lover’ by Chic (from ‘Risqué) – one of my top 3 ‘disco’ tracks from the 80s, still sounding as bright and fresh as ever, on an album with absolutely no filler – just irresistible arrangements from the immortal Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.
‘La Fanette’ by Jacques Brel (from ‘Jacques Brel – Les Bonbons’ (1966)) – imagine a luscious French take on Bobby Goldsboro’s ‘Summer (The First Time)’ with swirling cinematic strings, harp, mandolin ... and even ondes Martenot to round it all off. Doomed love par excellence!
‘You Are, I Am’ by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (from ‘Angel Station’) – grandiose sweeping melodic prog rock at its best – “You are the moment Martha’s madman came out of the darkness, you are the eye glass of the nearly blind”. Outstanding!
‘Glacier Descent’ by Arve Henriksen (from ‘Strjon’) – an astonishing piece which transports you to a beautiful, daunting, snowy place, where the incomparable Norwegian jazzer’s trumpet wails out its emotional plea for understanding and collective survival over layers and layers of high chant and low drone, which underpin a truly majestic wall of sound. This man is a true genius!
‘Masse Di Memoria’ by Rita Marcotulli (from ‘The Woman Next Door’) – Truffaut hommage mixes up a bouillabaisse of compelling modern jazz, European roots and cosmopolitan sophistication
‘1980 Medley’ including ‘Knowing When To Leave’ & ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ by The Carpenters (from ‘The Essential Collection, CD 4’) – staggeringly brilliant vocal arrangements behind my fave female voice ever singing two Bacharach and David songs – it doesn’t get much better!
‘Above The Treetops’ & ‘Sunlight’ by Pat Metheny (from ‘Secret Story’) – two outstanding tracks – one reflective & one irresistibly upbeat – from a truly outstanding album
‘Inhaler’ by Craig Armstrong (from ‘As If To Nothing’) – an irresistible juggernaut of fizzing orchestra and big beats
‘Há Uma Música Do Povo’ by Mariza (from ‘Transparente’) – a heartbreakingly beautiful opening kicks off my favourite album by one of the current queens of fado
‘Blues In My Heart’ & ‘Brother Can You Spare A Dime’ by Sonny Criss (from ‘Blues In My Heart’) – perfect lyrical alto sax from the mid-70s ... and then he committed suicide ...
‘Golden Hair’ by Syd Barrett (from ‘The Madcap Laughs’) – another totally treasurable British genius!
‘Last Breath’ by Jukka Eskola (from ‘Jukka Eskola’) – outstanding trumpet and flugelhorn playing, floating in ultra-cool Finnish ether
‘La Grange’ by ZZ Top (from ‘Tres Hombres’) – unbeatable southern boogie from the time when they sounded like Hendrix rather than just yet another electro-rock band ...
FAVES PREVIOUSLY ON HEAVY ROTATION BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ by She & Him, aka Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward (from ‘Volume One’) - Lesley Gore-style 60s US pop updated for a contemporary audience, with an excellent set of mostly Deschanel-penned songs
‘I Love Music’ by Prefab Sprout (from ‘Let’s Change The World With Music’) - treasurable BrItish genius
'You Never Know' by Wilco (from (the album)) - Tom Petty meets George Harrison: retro heaven!
'Jamais' by Charlotte Gainsbourg (from '5.55') - Jarvis Cocker lyrics, music by Air - fab French pop
‘Line’ by Portico Quartet (from ‘Isla’) - gamelan meets post-Coltrane sax in Soho: absolutely brilliant!
' Nascente' by Céu (from 'Vagarosa') - crazed trumpet soloing over irresistible Brazilian cool
‘Open Up Your Door’ by Richard Hawley (from ‘Truelove’s Gutter’) - lush love from Sheffield
'Did You See Me Coming?' & 'King Of Rome' by Pet Shop Boys (from 'Yes') - the two sides of the outstandingly rich PSB coin
‘Whatever It Takes’ by Michael Bublé with Ron Sexsmith (from ‘Crazy Love’) - top easy vibe!
Kings Of Convenience ‘Declaration Of Independence’ CD - understatedclass throughout
‘Another Moon Song’ by Espers (from ‘III’) - neck-biting gothic blues feast, served up with ‘Rain Song’-style mellotron noodles
‘Sentimento’ by Cesária Évora (from ‘Nha Sentimento’) – check out those Egyptian strings ...
'Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil)' by Yes (from 'Tales From Topographic Oceans') - prog is the drug!
